SB 18: Food Desert Elimination Grant Program.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law creates the Office of Farm to Fork within the Department of Food and Agriculture, and requires the office, to the extent that resources are available, to work with various entities, as prescribed, to increase the amount of agricultural products available to underserved communities and schools in the state. Existing law requires the office, among other things, to identify distribution barriers that affect limited food access and work to overcome those barriers through various actions and to coordinate with school districts and representatives to increase the nutritional profile of foods provided in schools.

This bill would create the Food Desert Elimination Grant Program under the administration of the department for the purpose of expanding access to healthy foods in food deserts, as defined, in the state, and areas at risk of becoming food deserts, by providing grants to grocery store operators, as specified. The bill would create the Food Desert Elimination Fund in the General Fund and would authorize the fund to be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of the program. The bill would authorize the department to collect nonstate, federal, and private funds, require those funds to be deposited into the California Equitable Food Access Account within the Food Desert Elimination Fund, and continuously appropriate moneys in the account to the department for purposes of the program. The bill would authorize the department to award grants for specified purposes to grocery store operators seeking to locate grocery stores in food deserts or to existing grocery stores located in food deserts. The bill would authorize the department to adopt guidelines to implement these provisions. The bill would make the implementation of all of its provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would repeal its provisions on December 31, 2030.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3 · Republican 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 29, 2025August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. July 16, 2025July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
3. July 3, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 5, 2025Referred to Com. on AGRI.
5. May 29, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
6. May 29, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1322.) Ordered to the Assembly.
7. May 27, 2025Ordered to special consent calendar.
8. May 23, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1187.) (May 23).
10. May 20, 2025Set for hearing May 23.
11. May 19, 2025May 19 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
12. May 9, 2025Set for hearing May 19.